The Lake County Forest Preserve District could go to market with a portion of its general office building in Libertyville after a change in state law.

Gov. Bruce Rauner on Friday signed Senate Bill 791, which allows the district to lease or sell all or part of its former Motorola office building at 1899 W. Winchester Road that is not required for its purposes. The forest district is exempt from property taxes and the amendment to the Downstate Forest Preserve District Act will allow it to rent the space to a commercial enterprise that will pay property taxes.

"We may be in here for the very, very long term but if we want to change something in the future, now we have the possibility," said Ty Kovach, the district's executive director.

There have been no conversations with potential tenants, Kovach added, but the goal is to lease the second floor that comprises about 30,000 square feet.

"If we have a resource, we want to maximize the use for it. We went the legislative route so there were no questions," forest board President Ann Maine said.

State Sen. Melinda Bush, a former county board and forest district member, sponsored the bill. She said estimates showed the district could save millions in operating costs and maintenance over 20 years.

I was so happy to help organize a job fair in Round Lake recently. Round Lake continues to see high unemployment. If you're searching for work or know somebody who is, I encourage you to reach out to the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). Here are some numbers from our July 21 hiring event at Magee Middle School:

GRAYSLAKE — State Senator Melinda Bush issued the following statement after a severe storm damaged structures Sunday night throughout the Round Lake area, Hainesville, Grayslake, Wildwood and Gurnee, including her home:

“Elected officials and agencies throughout Lake County are working together on storm damage assessments and power restoration for thousands of Lake County residents,” said Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake). “Across the county, neighbors are helping neighbors, cleaning up trees and debris. We’re seeing a spirit of cooperation that will help piece together some of what was lost in this storm.”

“We're coordinating with the municipalities and townships that were affected, we're conducting that damage assessment to see what the needs are, and we're working to get ComEd accurate information so they can quickly restore power to those without it, and we're also in touch with human services like the Red Cross to assist those without insurance or other means to get their property repaired,” McKenzie said Monday morning.

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Bruce Rauner signed three measures into law today that State Sen. Melinda Bush chief-co-sponsored.

House Bill 2556

Bush, D-Grayslake, served as chief co-sponsor of House Bill 2556 in the Illinois Senate. The new law requires certain businesses in Illinois to post information about the National Human Trafficking Resource Center. Concerned citizens can call the center’s 24-hour hotline to report suspected cases of human trafficking.

“We think of human trafficking as something happening far away, but it’s not,” Bush said. “By requiring this information to be posted in places like transit hubs, hospitals and certain businesses, we’re reminding the public that this heinous act happens in our backyard and that we can do our part to fight it.”

House Bill 2554

House Bill 2554 helps property taxpayers who seek to appeal an assessment by making it easier to meet filing deadlines. Under the new law, a challenge will be considered to be filed on time if it is postmarked by the deadline. Under the current law, a challenge misses the deadline if it arrives in the mail after the date in question. Bush was chief co-sponsor of the measure in the Senate.

“This makes the property tax assessment challenge process much more fair to taxpayers,” Bush said. “With this change, we are guaranteeing constituents that if they mail their challenge on time, there is no question they have met the deadline to appeal their property taxes.”

“We need to focus on renewable energy as we plan the future of Illinois,” Bush said. “By requiring this report, we can get a clear view of what is being done and what needs to be done to more widely adopt a sustainable source of energy.”